Masters: Turlock boasts four state qualifiers; Hilmar medals one

Turlock’s Jason Valdovinos finished fourth at Masters and will be going onto State.

Turlock High’s success on the mat continued at the Masters Tournament this past Thursday and Friday. The Bulldogs finished in fifth place as a team and had five wrestlers earn medals, four of which will continue on to the State Tournament next weekend.

Valdovinos’ and Bertalotto’s performances were especially impressive. Valdovinos won six straight matches after losing his opening match to earn his fourth place finish, and Bertalotto’s seventh place finish makes him only the third freshman in Turlock’s history to qualify for state.

Hilmar High entered the Masters Tournament with four wrestlers and walked away with one medalist. Sophomore Anthony Melo place eighth, becoming the first sophomore Yellowjacket to place in school history and earning the first Hilmar section medal since 1993. Senior Tyler Juncker narrowly missed a medal with a ninth place finish.